Cork's Wayne Lordan lands Royal Ascot glory on Great Barrier Reef

Great Barrier Reef gave Inishannon jockey Wayne Lordan another magical moment at Royal Ascot this afternoon. 

He maintained his unbeaten record as Aidan O’Brien edged closer to a century of Royal Ascot victories with a win in the Group 2 Coventry Stakes.

It's been the season that keeps on giving for the popular Cork jockey and added to two classics which he's already secured this season. 

Wayne's wife Carey - Anne was in attendance and was on the winner's podium afterwards to celebrate her husband's success.

Jaan Ki Tukri set the early fractions on the near side, tracked by the Ballydoyle trained Confucius who went to post a well supported 2/1 favourite having touched 5/2 in the ring. 

Wayne Lordan was always in a good position on the stable's perceived second string, Great Barrier Reef. 

Lordan elected to come down the middle of the track. He produced the son of No Nay Never to lead with a furlong to go. 

There had been a suggestion that he wasn't entirely straightforward but he showed plenty of resilience to persevere by half a length from Adaay Of Scarlett.

The Coventry Stakes has been kind to the maestro of Ballydoyle.

Aidan O'Brien secured the Group 2 contest for the twelfth time - as Great Barrier Reef continued his unbeaten record under Wayne Lordan.

The son of No Nay Never won impressively on his debut at the Curragh, and also won the Group 3 Marble Hill Stakes last month. 

However Ryan Moore elected to ride Naas winner Confucius which saw the winner go off at 6/1.

In 2024, Age Of Kings gave Innishannon native Wayne Lordan another Royal victory for Ballydoyle in the Group 3 Jersey Stakes on the final day of the Royal Meeting, back then. 

Like today he also was the perceived Ballydoyle second string with Ryan Moore opting for The Antarctic. 

That has been a recurring trend this season too.

Wayne rode his first winner for former Berring's trainer Gerry Cully aboard Ethbaat at Killarney in 1998. 

He's enjoyed multiple Group success in the interim. 

His first Group One success came in 2010 aboard Sole Power in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York when a rank outsider at 100/1 for Eddie Lynam. Wayne landed his first classic victory aboard Winter in the 2017 1,000 Guineas. 

This season he won the English 1,000 Guineas on True Love and the Irish equivalent on Precise.

Wayne joined forces with the all-conquering Aidan O'Brien stable in Ballydoyle in 2017 and added to his Classic gains with Hermosa in the 1,000 Guineas in 2019. 

Later that year he landed the biggest success of his career in the United States in the Breeders Cup aboard Iridessa for Joseph O'Brien in the Breeders Cup Fillies and Mare's Turf.

The Cork pilot also enjoyed a memorable Royal Ascot success in 2014 for Eddie Lynam aboard Slade Power in the Group One Diamond Jubilee Stakes. 

Lynam had provided Wayne with his first Group one victory.